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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| One in Four Israeli Men Dodge Draft |
| 2007-07-18 |
| One in four Israeli men eligible for national service last year dodged the draft, the highest proportion in the history of the Jewish state. Figures released yesterday by the Israeli Army showed that in the 2006 intake, just 75 per cent of eligible men joined up. The figures date from before last year's Lebanon war, widely viewed in Israel as a failure, and there are worries that this year's numbers could show an even greater rate of non-participation. The declining participation rate in a country that since its foundation in 1948 has repeatedly had to use its army to fight for its existence led to strong criticism from officers inside the Israeli army. advertisement "Israeli society has to condemn draft dodgers," an unnamed officer said. "This is not just a military matter, but a social issue as well. Those who do not shoulder their share of the burden have to be made to feel ashamed." Israeli men can avoid service in several ways. The growing number of Ultra-Orthodox Jews have special dispensation to continue religious studies, while convicted criminals are barred from serving, as are the ill and infirm. But some young Israelis travel overseas beyond the reach of the army authorities and there is some evidence of people pretending to have mental illness to avoid service. There have been calls to reverse the decline either by limiting exemptions, or by allowing those with a criminal record to enlist. The reduced levels of participation reveal a change in attitudes among young Israelis as the memory of the country's early days, surrounded by hostile, aggressive Arab neighbours, becomes more distant. With peace treaties signed with Egypt and Jordan, the imminent sense of threat is not as strong for today's young Israelis as it used to be. I'ts been my impression that there has been a lot of immigration from Russia and Eastern Europe by nominal Jews who were going to Israel more for economic opportunity rather than anything else. If true, then I wonder how much of the recent immigration is reflected in the 25% not joining up. |
| Posted by:Laurence of the Rats |
| #5 I think the Israeli perception is that there is no longer a danger of an Egyptian blockade or a Syrian invasion. This change of the threat from tanks to suicide vests coupled with a steady diet of self-hatred has sapped the will of younger Israelis. Like the US, I think there is a lower level of patriotism without angst. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2007-07-18 21:43 |
| #4 A T, a good catch. |
| Posted by: twobyfour 2007-07-18 19:10 |
| #3 The reduced levels of participation reveal a change in attitudes among young Israelis as the memory of the country's early days, surrounded by hostile, aggressive Arab neighbours, becomes more distant. How deranged is that comment?! Such a ridiculous statement only serves to put the rest of the article in doubt. |
| Posted by: A T 2007-07-18 15:15 |
| #2 Ah. That explains the number of kiosks at festivals and shopping malls staffed by young Israelis I've seen lately. I think you may be right about the economic opportunity angle, Laurence of the Rats. After all, Israel has a growing illegal immigrant problem for that very reason. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-07-18 14:33 |
| #1 A lot of this would change overnight by doing just a few things. First would be to deny money to any Orthodox sect that does not encourage its young men to serve in the military. Second would be to suspend the citizenship of any Israeli living overseas who ignores a draft notice. That is, they would still be citizens, but their travel visas would be revoked, and the countries they were visiting would be notified that they were now there illegally. In the US and Europe, this would make them illegal aliens, and subject to expulsion. In addition, starting with their given induction date, they could add additional time to their enlistment based on their time of absence. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-07-18 14:15 |